How we got to this point?

[kentuck]

It did not happen overnight. It did not begin with Donald Trump, although it may end with him?

How did we get to the point where incompetence and ignorance are celebrated and promoted to the highest offices in the land?

How did we get to the point where minds were turned to mush?

We need to go back about three decades. When the Fairness Doctrine was overturned and right-wing political opportunists created a goldmine in talk radio. They could tear down their opponents, lie to their hearts content, and not have to be called out on it. In my opinion, that was the beginning. They chose Rush Limbaugh to sell their "product" and they rewarded him handsomely.

Those that did not believe like them, especially "liberals", were vilified and mocked until they were almost non-human. They were alien to America. They were to be hated and despised. Years and years of this hatred spewing from the radios finally was rewarded with the presidency of Donald Trump.

Now, we have a fat, incompetent slob sitting in the White House, tweeting out racist hatred and lies to his congregation of followers. They are all criminally-minded. They look for ways to lie, cheat, and steal at every opportunity.

The rest of America is ridden with anxiety about whether they will be able to vote or to have their votes counted in the next election. They worry about the oncoming dictatorship.

[Phoenix61]

1. Then the Citizens United decision happened and

to fund all the right-wing politicians who aligned with it.

[kentuck]

2. Yes, that was a big part of it.

No doubt.

[brush]

3. So true. Great analysis.

[Wicked Blue]

4. Restoring the Fairness Doctrine is vital

to saving democracy

[Buckeye_Democrat]

5. Agreed, but you'll surely come across some people on DU...

... who will act like it's impossible despite how the Fairness Doctrine was in place for many years, and coincidentally before the worst of the right-wing propaganda was spouted unchallenged.

[wendyb-NC]

6. This is so true.

Citizens United, was the icing on the cake. We sure could use the Fairness Doctrine, now, as we have a a tower of Babel, version of lies, disparaging speech, provocative accusations, disinformation, conspiracy theories etc. Decency and civility, honesty and compassion, hasn't been the tea party politicians forte.

[procon]

7. Goes back even farther to the Southern Strategy tactics

that followed the signing of the.Civil Rights Act in 1964. Republicans had long sought ways to find a foothold in Southern states, but the voters were solid “Dixiecrats", but suddenly the Southern states were in play.

The GOP came a calling on Democratic defectors with
offerings that appealed their racist views. A sympatico Republican party gave Southern voters a new home to bring their hate and keep up the good fight. Republicans gave these voters a seat at the table and showed them how to weaponize their grievances and get even with those dang libs.

Rightwing politicians were quick to jump on the Southern gravy train. Nixon embraced it, but Reagan make it a permanent Republican platform. Politiciansm developed new messaging strategies to bring in disaffected Southern voters and Hate Radio was born. and Fox News soon followed.

[Buckeye_Democrat]

8. Jimmy Carter won most of the Southern states...

... in 1976.

Everything you mentioned had an impact as well, but it was the marriage of the white evangelicals with Reagan and the Republicans that sealed the deal.

People like Jerry Falwell didn't take kindly to Carter even mentioning the possibility of taxing churches and their organizations.

And excluding the white evangelicals, Clinton won the white-vote too.

[appalachiablue]

9. +1

[kentuck]

10. That is true...

But it was talk radio that gave them a place to gather and share their sick and demented conspiracy theories and to blame every ill on the liberals and the godless Democrats. Talk radio organized them. We are now reaping what was sown many years ago.

[Midnight Writer]

11. I think a key point was The Laffer Curve. Supply side trickle down economics.

A dump truck full of total bullshit that the American people were sold on. As a result, we have had tax cut after tax cut going to the wealthiest while our deficit grew and grew.

They (the GOP) told an outrageous lie, doubled and tripled down on it, and it worked.

Not surprising that they would lie again. And again. And again.

And the same people keep believing them.